Location

The North Central Section includes the following Texas counties:  Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Fannin, Freestone, Grayson, Hopkins, Hunt, Kaufman, Navarro, and Rockwall.

APATX North Central Section Board Transition

November 2023 is a month of celebration for your North Central Texas Section of APA. A heartfelt thank you goes out to many of our outgoing section board members including Director Staron Faucher, who will now be serving as AICP Board Commissioner for Region 3. Much hard work and thoughtful leadership was provided by Eleana Tuley, Kendall Howard, Donna Sepulvado, and Madhuri Mohan.

Section leadership will include some new faces and ones you are already familiar with. Chelsey Smith, AICP, will serve as the section's director with a very talented and energetic slate serving our members for the next two years including the following:

• Director-Elect - Vivian Fung, AICP – Olsson Studio
• Past Director - Staron Faucher, AICP – WSP
• Secretary - Michelle Queen, AICP – Olsson Studio
• Treasurer - Ruoyu Liu, CDM Smith
• Communications Coordinator – Bobie Guo, AICP, Jacobs & Katherine Linares, CNU-A, Verundity
• Professional Development Officer - Kim Dresdner, AICP, Gensler
• Emerging Planning Leaders Representative - Mike Grace, AICP, Metro Development Consulting
• Focus North Texas Chair - Brooks Wilson, AICP
• Networking Coordinator – Dani Raschel Mathews, AICP, Evolving Texas
• Student Representatives –Ladan Mozaffarian, Juan Carlos Pina Espinosa, and Kalvin Eddleman

This is a board that believes in APA’s mission of creating great communities. Most importantly we are here to serve our members and provide opportunities to elevate and unite a diverse planning profession.

To do that, we need to know what's most valuable about your APA section membership and what we can do better to serve you. Please take a few quick minutes to fill out this survey.

We are looking forward to working with all section members, please do not hesitate to email us at apatx.northcentral@gmail.com. Share with us your great ideas so we can consider them as we craft our future plans.

APATX North Central Section Survey

Officers

Announcements

Get Involved: Join a Subcommittee

APATX North Central Section is looking for subcommittee volunteers. Subcommittees include Social Activities; Community Service; Educational/Professional Development; and Focus North Texas. We encourage section members from all backgrounds to apply.

Sign Up Form

Upcoming Events

CM Cram Session: A Week of Virtual Lunch n' Learns

Are you a few CM credits short before the reporting period ends? Join us Monday December 4 – Thursday December 7, from 12 pm to 1 pm for four virtual lunch n' learns.

Monday 12/4: Parking Benefit Districts, course #9225231
Tuesday 12/5: The 21st Century Comprehensive Plan, course #9278654
Wednesday 12/6: Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, course #927161
Thursday 12/7: Designing a Wayfinding System, course #9267174

Registration: Please fill out this form to let us know which sessions you’d like to attend and a Teams invite will follow shortly after.

CM Credits (1 CM Credit each)

Log your credits by either searching the name of the course or the course number.

Contact Kim Dresdner (Kim_Dresdner@gensler.com) for questions!

APA Texas North Central Section CM Cram Session

Past Events

TxDOT Kicking Off Statewide Active Transportation Plan

The Texas Department of Transportation is developing a comprehensive Statewide Active Transportation Plan (SATP) to establish a unified vision for identifying and implementing strategic active transportation priorities across Texas through 2050 and is seeking input from the public.

The public is invited to learn about the SATP and share input through in-person open house meetings within Texas metropolitan areas from October through November, or online through a virtual public meeting available on www.TxDOT.gov. The same information and comment opportunities will be provided in both formats.

In Person Meeting

Nov.16 – Dallas – J Erik Jonsson Central Library (4:30-6:30 p.m.)

Virtual Meeting

When: Wednesday, Oct. 4 to Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023

Where: www.txdot.gov, keyword search “Active Plan” or use the URL to locate the meeting: https://lnkd.in/gVANkB_3

Format: Pre-recorded video presentation with audio and visual components.
Comments must be received by Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, to be included in the public meeting record and may be submitted by:

Email: bikeped@txdot.gov
Mail: SATP, PO Box 5459, Austin, TX 78763
Online: Virtual Open House
Voicemail: (800) 671-9854

AICP EXAM PART I WORKSHOP

Saturday, January 28, 2023

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

University of Texas at Arlington

CAPPA Building Auditorium

Room 204

Hosted by the University of Texas at Arlington, College of Architecture, Planning and Public Affairs

Registration fee: Free of charge

Workshop Presenters:

Richard E. Luedke, AICP, City of Lewisville, APA Texas PDO

Eleana Tuley, AICP, City of Waxahachie, APA Texas North Central Section

Jenny Crosby, AICP, City of Southlake, APA Texas Midwest Section

The AICP Exam Part I Workshop will provide an overview of what to expect from the AICP Exam. We will cover helpful tips on how to study and test taking strategies. The major topic areas of the exam will be outlined and sample test questions will be presented.

To register, please send your name, email address and phone number to:

Richard Luedke, AICP

Texas Chapter Professional Development Officer

rluedke@cityoflewisville.com

(817) 938-4409

AICP EXAM PART II WORKSHOP

The AICP Exam Part II Workshop is conducted by Dr. Jennifer Cowley, FAICP, the nation's leading AICP exam preparation instructor, and Richard Luedke, AICP, Texas Chapter Professional Development Officer (PDO). During this 6-hour workshop, Dr. Cowley and Mr. Luedke will take you on a deep dive on how to approach the questions on the AICP exam and will guide you through the thought process needed to select the correct answers.

Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.at UT Arlington; CAPPA Building Auditorium Room 204

Registration Fee: $60 (includes lunch)

Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aicp-exam-part-ii-workshop-tickets-515360506147

Young Professionals Society Fair

Calling all transportation professionals in the DFW area! Want to increase your network with others in the industry? Looking to join an organization related to your career interests but don't know where to start? If so, you’re in luck-- HNTB is excited to host their first Young Professionals Society Fair on Tuesday, February 28th at their Plano office. 

Join local planning pride for an engaging panel discussion and open-house style event where you can network with like-minded colleagues and learn about the great organizations in North Texas. See details below for the day-of agenda, location, and free registration. 

5:00-5:30PM Networking and Happy Hour

5:30-6:15PM Panel Discussion 

6:15-7:30PM Booth Visits with Organizations

CAPPA Career Fair || Save the Date + Application

We are excited to share the information packet for our upcoming in-person CAPPA Career Fair on March 8th from 10a-4p.
The registration link is provided below:
2023 CAPPA Career Fair - Firm Registration
https://secure.touchnet.net:443/C21611_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=1302&FROMQRCODE=true&SINGLESTORE=true     
Please note we are using a different platform this year to ensure your firm is registered for the Career Fair and payments have been made, and let us know if we should reach out to another representative at your firm.
Point of contact:
Irene Vu
AIAS President || SPA VP of Community Development
MArch + MCRP Student
Email: irene.vu@uta.edu

Career Fair Packet

Lattes & Leadership with Richard Gertson, FAICP

Join us on the second floor of Arlington’s Inclusion Coffee for Lattes & Leadership with Richard Gertson, FAICP!

Richard Gertson, FAICP, has been a planning and public management professional for 45 years. He started as a planner with the City of Galveston, and after completing graduate school, served nearly 20 years as the city manager or city attorney in various Oklahoma communities. Since 2000, Richard has worked in Texas as the planner director for the cities of Abilene and Mesquite. He is currently the Assistant Director of Planning and Development Services in Arlington. Richard has a bachelor’s in Environmental Design from Texas A&M, and a juris doctor and master’s in Urban Planning from the University of Iowa. In 2022, he was inducted into the AICP College of Fellows for his accomplishments in comprehensive and downtown planning, revitalization, affordable housing, and growth management. Richard is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UTA where he teaches Plan Implementation, Zoning and Regulations.

Organized by the Midwest Section of APA TX, Lattes and Leadership is a free opportunity for planners from all experience levels to meet and discuss trending planning topics the region’s best and brightest. Don’t expect a pre-set agenda, presentations, or speeches at Lattes and Leadership! You will be part of a round table discussion in a relaxed environment.

Parking: Free parking is available on the first floor of 101 Center’s Parking Garage. Free on-street (back-in) parking is also available on all block faces of 101 Center. Additional free parking can be found north of the Library across from Mellow Mushroom.

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Save the Date | Happy Hour at Bishop Arts

TXAPA North Central Section is hosting a Happy Hour at Bishop Arts on Thursday, March 23rd at 5:30pm! We look forward to seeing you in Dallas, TX! 

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Reshaping the City: Zoning for a More Equitable, Sustainable, and Resilient Future | Urban Land Institute (uli.org)

Learn from cross-sector experts about opportunities related to updating zoning in communities across the United States. The webinar will, 1) highlight connections among traditional zoning and land use challenges cities and towns are grappling with today, 2) make the case for updating zoning policies to support health, social equity, climate action, and resilience—with a focus on aligning zoning with community priorities and real estate development objectives, and 3) share promising examples of zoning policy updates from across the United States. This webinar will be co-hosted by Smart Growth America.

CM Opportunity | Ethics in Planning Study Foundations: Planning Outcomes, Practices, and Plagiarism

The session will be held in-person on Tuesday, April 18 at WSP’s Dallas Office (3102 Oak Lawn Ave, Suite 450) at 6:00 p.m. For additional information and to RSVP, please contact Staron Faucher. Happy hour refreshments will be provided.

Ethics:

The AICP Ethics Committee has had several cases in the past year dealing with plagiarism. Based on the cases, AICP members have had difficulty discerning what is and is not plagiarism is in the planning profession.

Session Description: Putting the AICP Code of Ethics into practice in the development of planning documents and presentations, including planning study outcomes, external impacts, and plagiarism.

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APATX Involvement Webinar

The nomination window for Chapter/Section positions is now open! Join Heather Nick (APATX President) and Kelly Porter (President-Elect) for a webinar to highlight the open Chapter/Sections positions and other volunteer opportunities, including a live Q&A. Please don’t miss this opportunity to hear from Chapter leadership about how YOU can be a part of the APATX initiatives and leadership too!
📅 Friday, April 21 at 12pm

RSVP on Zoom: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Earth Day Service Day at Bexar Street Farm

In celebration of Earth Day, TXAPA North Central Section is organizing a community service event on Saturday, April 22nd, from 9AM to 12PM at Bonton Farms (6915 Bexar St, Dallas, TX 75215, USA)!

What will we be doing? Daily farm chores play a crucial role in keeping us on track to produce and sell food for those who need it. During your time on the farm, you can expect to help with the following types of chores:

• Cleaning out dirty chicken coops
• Weeding and watering
• Helping plant new crops
• Adding compost or mulch to crop rows

By singing up for this opportunity, we respectfully ask that you come ready to work and get your hands dirty! We are a real, working farm!

What should you wear?

• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
• Short or long-sleeve t-shirt (longer sleeves protect against bugs and the sun)
• Work pants or jeans
• Closed-toe boots (or other closed-toe shoes you don’t mind getting muddy)
• Hat and/or sunglasses

Need to know

• For their safety, children under 10 may NOT participate in volunteer activities.
• For their safety, minors (under 18) must be accompanied by a parent at all times.
• Every participant must be registered and approved for this project through VOMO in order to volunteer. There is a participation limit on this project. Additional guests will not be accommodated.

Sign Up Here: Earth Day Service Day at Bexar Street Farm | VOMO

GDPC | Hensley Field Master Plan

Register for the next GDPC breakfast meeting using the link below! Great insights will be provided for public and private practitioners, breakfast and parking provided. Feel free to contact Ruben Landa (Ruben.Landa@wsp.com) for any questions.

APATX State Planning Conference 

The APATX State Planning Conference attracts not only planners, but participants from diverse professions including engineers, architects, landscape architects, public health professionals, economists, attorneys, and appointed and elected officials. APATX⋆23 is poised to continue the energy and excitement of past conferences and will be held in person November 8-10 in Corpus Christi!

Home - APATX⋆23 State Planning Conference (cvent.com)

#FNT23 Event Rescheduled

Focus North Texas (FNT) is a one-day symposium providing training and continuing education relating to city planning focused in the DFW region. #FNT2023 will be held on Friday, May 12th, 2023, at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas. More details to come: https://www.focusnorthtexas.com/

Application Window is OPEN for the 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort

The APATX Leadership Academy is a world-class leadership development experience designed by leadership experts in the American Planning Association Texas Chapter. Join the inaugural cohort of the APATX Leadership Academy to become transformative leaders in the planning profession, your organization, and your community.

The 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort includes leadership training and assessments, seminars by Texas and national experts focused on leadership development, communication and public engagement training and coaching, and much more. The future of planning in communities across Texas requires a well-trained and supported leadership. The APATX Leadership Academy is designed to create a dynamic network of future leaders committed to promoting the planning profession in Texas communities.

The APA Texas Chapter invites you to apply to be part of the of 2023 APATX Leadership Academy Cohort. Applications are due on or before Friday, May 12, 2023.

If you have any questions, please email Fred Lopez, FAICP CTP, APATX Leadership Academy Chair, at fred.lopez@qeceng.com.

Application form: https://texas.planning.org/membership/apatx-leadership-academy/

Community Service at Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

TXAPA North Central Section is organizing a community service event on Friday, June 9th, from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM at Lake Highland!

Help Us Build:

It takes individuals, leaders, and groups like you, who are willing to give a day, a month, or several days a year to help turn a truck load of construction materials into a new home for a deserving family. Building a home alongside other volunteers and partner families is a great way to be part of something bigger.

Habitat sets the stage for families and volunteers to come together. A family partners with Habitat and contributes their “sweat equity” or their own labor. A volunteer offers them a hand up, providing the support and the “muscle” that often means homes can be built at considerably lower costs. At a Habitat build site, relationships are formed and friends are made.

Need to know:

• There is a participation limit on this project. Additional guests will not be accommodated.
• Volunteers are to meet June 9th, 2023, 9:30 am-1:30 am at Lake Highlands: LAKE HIGHLANDS

6500 Skillman St. Dallas, TX 75231

Please follow these instructions to create your account, submit your background check, and sign up for the above shift to volunteer.  

Please note: all volunteers must be registered in our Volunteer Portal before volunteering, and volunteers 18+ will be prompted to complete a background check. For the safety of our volunteers, staff, and home buyers, volunteers 18+ who have not completed a background check will not be permitted on site. Please see attached Sterling Privacy and Information Security guide regarding your background check.

Instructions are listed below to walk you through creating an account and registering for shifts. However, if you need additional assistance, please do not hesitate to contact: volunteering@dallas-habitat.org

New Volunteers (if volunteered with Dallas Habitat before July 1, 2020, then a new account must be created).

Please follow the instructions below to create your account, submit your background check, and sign up for your shift to volunteer.

If you have additional questions, please contact:

Volunteer Services Coordinator
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity

E-mail:

ireeves@dallas-habitat.org

Website:

https://dallasareahabitat.org/

Happy Hour at Windmills Brewery

TXAPA North Central Section is hosting a Happy Hour at Windmills Brewery on Tuesday, May 30th at 5 PM! We look forward to seeing you in Colony, TX!

APATX North Central Section Scholarship Opportunity

The APATX North Central Section scholarship is provided to help promote planning within the North Central Section of the Texas APA Chapter by providing partial funding to students enrolled in a university located within the North Central Section. It is anticipated that one (1) $1,000 student scholarship will be awarded and later recognized at the North Central Section Happy Hour.

APA_TX_North_Central_Scholarship_Application_2023_24.pdf (mcusercontent.com) 

AICP Exam Prep Workshop

AICP Exam Part I Workshop Arlington Announcement 7-8-23

Happy Hour at Cidercade Dallas

TXAPA North Central Section is hosting a Happy Hour at Cidercade Dallas on Wednesday, July 12th at 5:30 PM! Student scholarship recipient Juan Pina will be recognized. We look forward to seeing you in Dallas, TX!

APA HH July 12

2023 Elected and Appointed Officials Workshop

North Texas Mayors, City Managers, and Municipal Planning Staff:

The American Planning Association’s Midwest Section of the Texas Chapter is hosting its Annual Elected and Appointed Officials Workshop on Friday, July 28 at the Grand Hall at NRH Centre from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

This annual training opportunity for City Council members, Planning & Zoning Commissioners, Zoning Board of Adjustment members, and other elected and appointed officials will cover the fundamentals of planning and zoning, planning law, and ethics. An interactive development design review session will also demonstrate some key elements of plats, site plans and zoning changes for decision makers to look for when reviewing agenda items. The event is designed primarily as an introduction to planning and zoning for newer officials, but can also serve as a refresher course for more seasoned officials.

Agenda:

• 9:30 Doors open
• 10:00 Welcome &Introductions
• 10:10 History &Fundamentals of Planning & Zoning – Clayton Comstock & Clayton Husband, City of North Richland Hills
• 11:20 5-Minute Break
• 11:25 Planning Law – Bill Dahlstrom, Jackson Walker LLP
• 12:20 Break for Grab-n-Go Lunch
• 12:30 Planning Ethics for Elected & Appointed Officials (during lunch) – Carol Barrett
• 1:25 10-Minute Break
• 1:35 Interactive Development Review Workshop – Abra Nusser, Peloton Land Solutions
• 2:30 Speaker Panel Q&A
• 3:00 Adjourn

Registration is $35 and lunch is provided.

Please consider forwarding this training opportunity to your elected and appointed officials that have planning and zoning responsibilities.

Contact Clayton Comstock at ccomstock@nrhtx.com or (817) 427-6301 if you have any questions.

2023 Elected and Appointed Officials Workshop - Powered by Eventzilla

Virtual Lunch n' Learn

Need to catch up on CM credits? Join us on Tuesday, August 15th, from 12 pm to 1 pm for a virtual lunch n' learn. We will stream a pre-recorded session over Microsoft Teams from Planetizen. This session is called "Walkable Density: Building Livable, Equitable, and Resilient Communities," taught by David Dixon. More information about the course and the speaker are listed below.

Course Details

A new density paradigm, described as walkable density, would empower communities to effectively manage the accelerating pace of demographic, economic, environmental, social, and technological change. Walkable density enhances how people experience urban places. Notably, walkable density focuses on density not as a goal in its own right, but as a powerful tool for achieving community goals, such as quality of life improvements, economic opportunities, equity, and retrofitting sprawl, among other benefits.

Speaker

David is the Vice President for Stantec’s Urban Places Fellow. He is well known for helping create new, mixed-use urban districts (in both cities and suburbs) and the planning, revitalization, and redevelopment of downtowns.

CM Credits (1 CM Credit)

Log your credits by either searching the name of the course "Walkable Density: Building Livable, Equitable, and Resilient Communities" or course number #9263473.

Contact Eleana Tuley (eleana.tuley@waxahachie.com) for questions!

APATX North Central Section Virtual Lunch n' Learn (google.com)

Virtual Lunch n' Learn

Need to catch up on CM credits? Join us on Wednesday, September 13th, from 12 pm to 1 pm for a virtual lunch n' learn. We will stream a pre-recorded session over Microsoft Teams from APA. This session is called "Transportation Resources And Behaviors Among Older Immigrants And Migrants" taught by Portland State University, Transportation Research and Education Center. More information about the course and the speakers are listed below.

Course Details

This presentation reports findings from a cross-sectional survey of older Vietnamese immigrants in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX metroplex and member of a Hispanic senior center in Hartford, CT. In addition to providing a description of the the transportation resources and behavior, we present a method for assessing the geospatial "regular activity spaces" of older adults based on the the frequency and locations of routine activities. We also present options for assessing the geospatial burden of providing rides to older adults using "ride-provision activity spaces" of those who provide rides for older adults, which entails the frequency and locations of activities for which rides are given. Finally, we discuss the association of transportation-related factors and the companionships among members of the senior center in Hartford, CT. Implications for this research include land use policy, assessment for and allocation of public assistance for transportation for older adults, and transportation-related programs to address social isolation.

Speakers

Rebecca Mauldin

Rebecca Mauldin, PhD, LMSW, studies social connectedness. She focuses on the social relationships of older adults, the factors that support them forming and maintaining positive relationships, and the ways in which their relationships affect their health, well-being, and access to vital resources and information. In addition, she uses social network analysis to investigate human and organizational networks and their role in contributing to individual and community well-being. In her teaching, Rebecca is passionate about using and developing open educational resources. She serves on the board of Sixty and Better, an aging services organization in Fort Worth, Texas that empowers older adults to live with purpose, independence, and dignity. She earned her doctorate in Social Work from the University of Houston, her Master in Social Work from the University of Houston, and her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Stephen Mattingly

Dr. Mattingly joined the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) in September 2002. He is also a member of NITC's Executive Committee. Prior to joining UTA he served on the faculty at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) for two and a half years, and also served as a lecturer at the University of Southern California. While at UAF, Dr. Mattingly helped found the FAA Air Transportation Centers of Excellence Program: Center for General Aviation Research. He teaches undergraduate courses in transportation engineering and transportation planning as well as graduate courses in analytical models in transportation, system evaluation and decision making, transportation network analysis, transportation planning and bicycle and pedestrian facility planning and design.

Rupal Parekh

Rupal Parekh, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Connecticut. She has over a decade of professional and practice experience working with diverse older adult populations across the continuum of care. Her primary research aim is to improve outcomes for late-life immigrants, with particular attention to the role of the built environment on social isolation. Her research advocates for the development of culturally-grounded assessment tools, evidence-based practices, and national and state legislation to address the needs of older adults at the intersection of social isolation, multiple health issues, and structural and social barriers. Rupal is the Principle Investigator of “Sahanshakti & Mental Well-Being in the Lives of Older Asian Indian Immigrant Women in the United States,” funded by the Okura Mental Health Leadership Foundation Grant and the Council of Social Work Education (CSWE) and “Barriers to Transportation and the Impact on Quality of Life Among Non-English Speaking, Older Asian Indian Immigrant Populations” funded by The National Institute for Transportation and Communities. Dr. Parekh teaches courses in research methods and social policy.

CM Credits (1 CM Credit)

Log your credits by either searching the name of the course or course number #9271726.

Contact Kim Dresdner (Kim_Dresdner@gensler.com) for questions!

https://events.eventzilla.net/e/virtual-lunch-n-learn-2138616179?preview=1692995267466

Back to School Bash

The North Central and Midwest sections are hosting a 'Back to School Bash' on Friday, September 15th to kick off the new semester. The event will feature Dr. Ivonne Audirac as a guest speaker. Planners of all levels are welcome.

APA Back to School Bash - Sept 15

Photo Gallery

Stay Informed

The North Central Texas Section Boards meets via Teams every month. The next meeting is Friday, July 21st at 12:00 PM. Please contact Staron Faucher for more information or to listen into these meetings.

Want to subscribe to the APATX North Central Section newsletter, where we bring you the news you need to know? Make sure you update your contact information on the APA website under “MyAPA” or contact Bobie Guo at Bobie.Guo@jacobs.com to subscribe to the North Central Section Newsletter.

Be sure to check out our content on Facebook, and LinkedIn as well for more ways to stay in touch.

If you have any upcoming events, job announcements, or anything else you'd like to promote, please contact Bobie Guo.

Bylaws

North Central Section Bylaws (PDF)